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Government of Canada Invests in Recreational Infrastructure at Shouldice Athletic Park

June 05, 2009

Calgary, Alberta

MP Rob Anders (C) surrounded by the Greater Calgary Amateur Athletic Football Association Board of Directors in front of the projects main sports field.

Today, Rob Anders, Member of Parliament for Calgary-West, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced federal funding of $1 million toward one of the first projects under the Government of Canada’s Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program in Alberta.

"Our Government, through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program, is providing a critical investment that will help put Canadians to work, encourage greater participation in physical activity and use of recreational facilities,” said Mr. Anders. “RInC programs will ensure that communities across Canada have access to the essential infrastructure we need today and in the future."

The Greater Calgary Amateur Football Association will replace a natural turf sport field with artificial turf at Shouldice Athletic Park to increase access and opportunities for amateur sport and enhance player safety. This multi-purpose turf will also extend the play season and promote sport tourism opportunities. Also part of this recreation infrastructure project will be the construction of permanent bleachers, a spotting booth and a public plaza gathering area. Combined with enhanced landscaping, lights, and a scoredboard, Shouldice Athletic Park will have all the amenities typical of a world-class amateur sports facility.

Federal funding of $1 million is being provided by Western Economic Diversification Canada toward this project under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program.

"We are very pleased to be one of the first projects in Alberta approved for funding under the Federal Government's RInC program," said Greg Peterson, President of the Greater Calgary Amateur Football Association. "Along with the other funds raised by our donors, the one million dollars provided by the Government of Canada will enable us to complete our project and construct a world class facility at Shouldice Athletic Park."

The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. RInC will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. It will provide a temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impacts of the global recession while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities.

Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represents the interests of western Canadians in national decision making.

For more information on the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program in the West, please visit: http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/.

WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.Subscribe to our news updates and keep up-to-date on the latest from WD. Follow us on Twitter at @WD_Canada

Backgrounder

Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program

The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program provides $500 million nationally for projects to rehabilitate recreational facilities across Canada that can be completed by March 31, 2011.

Through RInC, the Government of Canada has committed to supporting upgrades and repairs to existing recreational assets.

The program is designed to provide a timely, targeted stimulus to the economy, and to help mitigate the impacts of the global economic recession by increasing the total amount of construction activity related to recreational infrastructure. Through the rehabilitation of recreational infrastructure, this program also encourages participation in physical activity and community building.

The initial RInC allocation for Western Canada, to be delivered by Western Economic Diversification Canada, is almost $54 million. The remaining funding, over the next two years, will be allocated based on the number of applications submitted to the Department.

Program Eligibility

Eligible applicants:

Municipal and local governments, agencies, and provincial entities that provide municipal-type services to communities;

Not-for-profit entity;

First Nation governments, Band or Tribal Councils, or their legally-designated representatives.

Eligible Projects:

Arenas

Gymnasia

Swimming pools

Sports fields

Tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport-specific courts;

Parks, fitness trails, and bike paths;

Other multi-purpose facilities that have physical recreation activity as the primary rationale.

Eligible projects must also:

Fall under one of the above eligible categories;

Normally be for the rehabilitation or repair of existing infrastructure, including new construction that is either adding to or replacing existing recreational infrastructure assets or capacity;

Begin and materially conclude construction before March 31, 2011; and,

Not have otherwise occurred, as proposed, without support from the RInC program, i.e. be incremental.

Application

Projects must meet the mandatory requirements as outlined in program eligibility section. Furthermore, projects will be recommended and approved on the basis of merit. The application form is available online at http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/

Project Selection

In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements described above, projects will be assessed on:

construction-readiness;

planned completion date;

incrementality; and,

the extent to which other funding is leveraged.

Depending on the volume of applications received, other criteria may be applied.